final report of the 2020 mars rover science definition team (sdt)

Final Report of the 2020 Mars RoverScience Definition Team (SDT)

(Jack Mustard, Chair)

Mitch SchulteMars 2020 Program Scientist

NASA HQ

NOTE: This package is for oral presentation of the SDT’s text report (July 1, 2013). In case of discrepancies, the SDT text report should be judged to be superior.

11/25/2013 12020 Mars Rover Science Definition Team

NOTE: This package is for oral presentation of the SDT’s text report (July 1, 2013). In case of discrepancies, the SDT text report should be judged to be superior.


Mars Rovers

Seek Signs of Life

The Exploration of Mars – What’s Next?


The proposed Mars 2020 mission would be:• positioned to capitalize on past strategic investments at Mars,

and to set the stage for direct testing of life-related hypotheses• A crucial element in executing NASA’s strategic plan• The most important next strategic mission to Mars• Aligned with Decadal Survey’s priorities for solar system exploration

1995 2005 2015 2025

OD

Y

MR

O

PHX

MSL

MAV

EN

EXM THE

FUTUREM20

20

TGO

MG

SM

PF

MER

MEX

2010 20202000 2030

Follow the Water

Flown

In Development

Prepare for Human Explorers

Explore Habitability

InSi

ght

SDT Roster


Chair Professional Affiliation Interest/ExperienceMustard, Jack Brown University Generalist, geology, Remote Sensing, MRO, MEPAG, DS, MSS-SAGScience Members (n = 16)Allwood, Abby JPL Field astrobiology, early life on Earth, E2E-SAG, JSWG, MSRBell, Jim ASU Remote Sensing, Instruments, MER, MSL, Planetary SocietyBrinckerhoff, William NASA GSFC Analytical Chemistry, Instruments, AFL-SGGCarr, Michael USGS, ret. Geology, Hydrology, ND-SAG, E2E, P-SAG, Viking, MER, PPSDesMarais, Dave NASA ARC Astrobio, field instruments, DS, ND-SAG, MER, MSL, MEPAGEdgett, Ken MSSS Geology, geomorph, MPF, MER, MRO, MSL, MGS, camerasEigenbrode, Jen NASA GSFC Organic geochemistry, MSL, ND-SAGElkins-Tanton, Lindy DTM, CIW Petrology, CAPS, DSGrant, John Smithsonian, DC geophysics, landing site selection, MER, HiRISE, E2E, PSSMing, Doug NASA JSC Geochemistry, MSL (CHEMIN, SAM), MER, PHXMurchie, Scott JHU-APL IR spectroscopy, MRO (CRISM), MESSENGER, MSS-SAGOnstott, Tullis Princeton Univ Geomicrobiology, biogeochemistryRuff, Steve Ariz. State Univ. MER, spectral geology, MGS (TES), MER, ND, E2E, JSWGSephton, Mark Imperial College Organics extraction and analysis, ExoMars, Astrobiology, E2ESteele, Andrew Carnegie Inst., Wash astrobiology, meteorites, samples, ND-, P-SAG, AFL-SSG, PPSTreiman, Allen LPI Meteorites, Samples, Igneous PetrologyHEO/OCT representatives (n = 2)Adler, Mark JPL Technology development, MER, MSR, Drake, Bret NASA JSC System engineering, long-lead planning for humans to MarsMoore, Chris NASA Advanced Engineering SystemsEx-officio (n = 6)Meyer, Michael NASA Mars Lead ScientistMitch Schulte NASA Mars 2020 Program ScientistGeorge Tahu NASA Mars 2020 Program ExecutiveDavid Beaty JPL Acting Project Scientist, Mars Program Office, JPLDeborah Bass JPL Acting Deputy Proj. Sci, Mars Program Office, JPLJim Garvin NASA Mars Program ScientistSupporting resources (n = 2)Wallace, Matt JPL Deputy Project Manager M-2020, designated engineering liasonSarah Milkovich JPL SDT documentarian, logisticsObserver (n = 1)Vago, Jorge ESA Project Scientist, ExoMars

With this overarching strategy in mind, to define detailed objectives, measurements, payload options and priorities & an integrated mission concept for a 2020 rover mission to address:

A. past habitability, B. potential biosignature preservation, C. progress toward sample return, &D. contributed technology/HEO payloads.

11/25/2013 2020 Mars Rover Science Definition Team 5

ScientificTheme

HighestPriorityScience

Goal

Next StepTo Achieve

HighestPriority

Science Goal

Mars 2020Science

DefinitionTeam Task

NASA’s Mars Exploration Program Scientific Theme: Seeking Signs of Life

(Decadal Survey, MEPAG, etc.)

Following the MSL, MAVEN, ExoMars, and Insight missions,to address in detail the questions of habitability &the potential origin and evolution of life on Mars.

(Planetary Decadal Survey–Mars Chapter)

To explore on the surface an ancient site relevant to the planet’s early habitability with sophisticatedcontext, contact, and spatially coordinated measurements

in order to perform detailed exploration of sites on Mars that could reveal past habitability and biosignature preservation potential.


• 8 to 9‐month cruise

• Arrive Jan/Mar 2021

• No changes from MSL (equivalent checkout capability, etc.)

SURFACE MISSION• Prime mission is one Mars year (669 days)

• Latitude‐independent and long‐lived power source

• Ability to drive out of landing ellipse

• Direct (uplink/downlink) and relayed (downlink) communication

• Fast CPU and large data storage

ENTRY, DESCENT, LANDING• MSL EDL system: guided entry and powered descent/Sky Crane

• 25 x 20 km landing ellipse*

• Access to landing sites ±30°latitude, ≤ 0 km elevation*

• ~950 kg rover

• Technology enhancements under consideration

CRUISE/APPROACH

LAUNCH• Atlas V

• Period: Jul/Aug 2020*EDL in work

The SDT envisions a 2020 Mars Rover mission that would:

• Conduct Rigorous In Situ Science– Geologic Context and History Carry out an integrated set of sophisticated context,

contact, and spatially-coordinated measurements to characterize the geology of the landing site

– In Situ Astrobiology Using the geologic context as a foundation, find and characterize ancient habitable environments, identify rocks with the highest chance of preserving signs of ancient Martian life if it were present, and within those environments, seek the signs of life

• Enable the Future– Sample Return Place carefully and rigorously-selected samples in a returnable

sample cache as the most scientifically, technically, and economically compelling method of demonstrating significant technical progress toward Mars sample return

– Human Exploration Conduct a Mars-surface critical ISRU demonstration to prepare for eventual human exploration of Mars

– Technology Demonstrate technology required for future Mars exploration

• Respect Current Financial Realities – Utilize MSL-heritage design and a moderate instrument suite to stay within the

resource constraints specified by NASA


Options and Priorities to Achieve

Objective A


Explore an astrobiologically relevant ancient* environment on Mars to decipher its geological processes and history,

including the assessment of past habitability.

*“Ancient” implies a location where the astrobiologically relevant environment no longer exists, but is preserved in a geologic record.

In order to explore and document geologic processes and history of a site, it is essential to integrate observations from orbital (regional) scales to microscopic (sub-millimeter) scales.

Geology Outside Landing Ellipse Informs Interpretations

Inside the Ellipse

The footprint and spatial resolution of measurements is critical for ensuring observations can be correlated across scales.


Adapted from Tori Hoehler


• Water properties (e.g., salinity, pH, and temperature)

• Protection from radiation (e.g. planetary dipole field)

Energy sources and availability (i.e., mineral suites of mixed valence states for redox energy; proximity to paleosurface for photosynthesis; radiogenic elements for radiolysis)

Availability of CHNOPS elements (beyond those species present in the atmosphere) and electron donors

• Water energy (quiet vs. high energy - implications for stabilization of microbial communities)

• Rate of burial (e.g. lacustrine - implications for establishment of microbial communities)

• Amount of water that was present (e.g. mineral-bound or interstitial fluids in subsurface; small/shallow surface water or large/deep surface water body)

• Persistence of the aqueous conditions

Raw Materials Energy

Water FavorableConditions

Habitability

To assess the habitability of a past environment, the rover must be able to examine the geologic record of that environment and evaluate the following

characteristics of that environment:

Deciphering Geological Processes and HistoryCorrelate Composition with Fine Texture & Structure

The ability to spatially correlate variations in rock composition with fine scale structures and textures is critical for

geological and astrobiological interpretations.

16

2020 Mars Rover Science Definition Team11/25/2013

11

Mineralogy

Visible lightVisible light

Chemistry

Schematic—intended to show potential, not

actual data.

0.5mm

Mineralogy, texture

1

23

4

5



Objective B

Assess the potential for preservation of biosignatures within the selected geological environment and

search for potential biosignatures.


POTENTIAL FOR BIOSIGNATUREPRESERVATION

EXISTENCE OF POTENTIAL BIOSIGNATURE

PRE‐CONDITIONS THAT MUST HAVE BEEN MET

Past conditions suitable for the existence of life at the site.

Past conditions suitable for the preservation of past life in the geologic record.

An observable feature thatmight be evidence of past life.

RECOGNITION OF DEFINITIVE BIOSIGNATURE

An observable feature that is confirmed to be evidence of past life.

POSSIBLE EVIDENCE OF ANY PAST LIFE

PAST LIFE DETECTED

Proposed Mars 2020 Rover

Labs on EarthMSR

PAST HABITABLE

ENVIRONMENT

The existence of evidence for past Martian life requires both a habitable environment and suitable conditions for biosignature preservation.

The subsequent recognition of any preserved biosignatures will require the combination of a capable rover and advanced analysis of returned samples on Earth.


Confidence in confirming biological origin(s) increases as more categories are detected.

1 We cannot anticipate which of these (if any) will be present or well-preserved…

…therefore we cannot anticipate which categories will provide the most information.

The 2020 Mars Rover must have the capability to detect as many of these signatures as possible to have a credible chance to find evidence of past life on Mars, because:

23

Legend:Biosignature Category

Detection method using Proposed M-2020 Rover

Context, Fine-Scale Mineralogy

Minerals

Organic Detection, Characterization

Isotopes

Organics

Context, Fine-Scale Chemistry

Chemistry

Possible microbial enrichment of REE in

carbonate (evidence of chemical equilibria or

disequilibria)

Context Imaging

Macro Structures/Textures

Stromatolite(macroscale rock

fabrics & structures)

Fine-scale Imaging

Microfossils (microscale rock of mineral fabrics and structures)

Isotopic record (stable isotopic patterns)

Biomarker organic molecules (organic matter features)

Biominerals (composition & morphology consistent with biological activity)

Micro Structures/Textures

These hypothesized potential Martian biosignatures represent independently observable features.



Objective C

Demonstrate significant technical progress toward the future return of scientifically selected,

well-documented samples to Earth.


“The analysis of carefully selected and well documented samples from a well characterized site [on Mars] will providethe highest scientific return on investment for understanding Mars in the context of solar system evolution

and addressing the question of whether Mars has ever been an abode of life.”

From Vision and Voyages for Planetary science in the Decade 2013‐2022:Committee on the Planetary Science Decadal Survey; National Research Council, March 2011

Reasons for returning samples for analysis on Earth…

Adapted from iMARS (2008); NRC Decadal Survey (2011)

• Perform definitive detection of a biosignature. As the range of measurements that can be accommodated on a single rover is extremely limited, neither the detection of a PBS nor the non-detection of one would be considered definitive until performed in a lab.

• Use advanced instrumentation not amenable for flight to Mars

• Employ techniques requiring complex sample preparation

• Use a virtually unlimited array of different instruments, including future instruments not yet even designed

• Gain the ability to run sequential analyses and replicate analyses in different labs.

20m

The SDT concurs with the detailed technical and scientific arguments made by theDecadal Survey (2011) and MEPAG (most recently summarized in E2E-iSAG, 2011)

for the critical role returned samples will play in the scientific exploration of Mars.

Options for Technical Progress Towards MSR

New Capability?

Consistent withProposed Mars-

2020 Resources?

Resulting contribution to MSRReduces Science

or Engineering Risk

Achieves MajorCampaign Milestone

Select Samples (for future collection) Select Samples &Assemble Demonstration Cache Select Samples & Assemble Returnable Cache


Of the options shown above, only the assembly of a returnable sample cache achieves a major milestone of MSR.

Samples on Mars

Spacecraft Launch from Earth/Land on Mars

Rover Select Samples

Acquire/Cache Samples

If we don’t advance to here we would need to send another rover in the future, with science and sampling capability, to complete the first step of MSR.

Note: A variety of candidate MSR technology demonstrations were identified and evaluated during the Mars Program Planning Group effort in 2012. Those demonstrations were not addressed again by this SDT.

The SDT concludes that three attributes are essential to making a cache returnable:

Science Merit

Planetary Protection

Engineering


1

2

3 The cache is returnable in an engineering sense.

The cache has enough scientific value to merit returning.

The cache complies with planetary protectionrequirements.



Objective D

Provide an opportunity for contributed HEOMD or Space Technology Program (STP) participation, compatible with the science payload and within the mission’s payload capacity.


2020s 2030s

Human Systems Development

2020 Rover

Human Sub-Scale Validation Demos• Land Large Payload• Advanced Aeroassist• Supersonic Retro-

Propulsion• ISRU O2 Production

and Use• Surface power

ISRU O2 Production• Demonstration of CO2

collection in actual Mars environment reduces future risks. O2 production is critical path of future human missions

MEDLI+

• Obtaining data lower in atmosphere reduces EDL uncertainties and risks

Surface Weather

• Understanding of long-term atmosphere behavior reduces future EDL risks

Biomarker

• Demonstrate detection of microbial contamination for future human missions

Future demonstration of sub-scale human relevant systems and technologies necessary to reduce risk and feed forward to human flight systems development

2010 National Space Policy: Humans to Mars by mid-2030s

Proof of Concept Validation Human Mission

NOTE:

This kind of demo can be run on a non-interference basis with science ops.


In-Situ Resource Utilization is the HEOMD top prioritydemonstration for the 2020 Mars Rover

#1 HEO Priority: ISRU Demo

• Utilizing locally produced consumables (e.g. oxygen for ascent) provides great leverage for human exploration of Mars

• Key technical issue: Data needed to support performance and reliability assessments, before we bet the lives of a crew of astronauts on it

• Much progress can be made in Mars environmental chambers on Earth, but some things require information from a Mars surface mission.

• Testing in the actual relevant environment (discover unknown unknowns)

• Most important general area of concern is the dust environment, which varies in unpredictable ways, and could have severe consequences on a future ISRU systems

O2 ISRU Schematic

The Importance of Supporting Atmospheric Data

• Need to understand regional dust context to understand WHY and HOW dust is affecting the ISRU demo.

• Needed to interpret data from the demo to apply to other places/times

• Data of value (priority order): Wind, Pressure, Temperature

In the proposed mission concept, science & human preparation objectives have synergy in three significant ways:


HEOMDObjectives

1

2

3

The instruments required for the science objectives are relevant to many SKGs.

The measurements/demos proposed by HEO satisfy some Mars science objectives.

A returnable cache of samples, if properly selected, would be of major interest to both.

The 2020 Mars Rover offers excellent opportunities for synergy betweenplanetary science and preparation for human exploration objectives.

ScienceObjectives


Measurements or demonstrations associated with Objective D would enhance the value of the mission to HEO, ST, and SMD.

The measurements required to meet Objectives A – C are nearly identical. Thus, these three objectives are highly integrated and compatible with a common mission.

Objective Af Objective B Objective C Objective DGeology Biosignatures Caching HEO/Tech

THRESHOLDInstruments addressing all 6 threshold measurements OPTIONS

Measurements/Capabilities Measurements/Capabilities Measures/Capabilities•Context Imaging •Context Imaging •Context Imaging•Fine-Scale Imaging •Fine-Scale Imaging •Fine-Scale Imaging • ISRU Demo•Context Mineralogy •Context Mineralogy •Context Mineralogy•Fine-Scale Elem Chem •Fine-Scale Elem Chem •Fine-Scale Elem Chem • EDL Data•Fine-scale Mineralogy •Fine-scale Mineralogy •Fine-scale Mineralogy

•Reduced/Organic C detection • EDL Precision & Site AccessBASELINE OPTIONS

Enhanced-capability instrument(s) in THRESHOLD category OR add one of the following: • Surface Weather Monitoring•Subsurface Sensing •2nd method of Organic C

Detection •Organic C Detection•Organic C detection • Biohazards to AstronautsENHANCED OPTIONS

Enhanced-capability instrument(s) in THRESHOLD category AND an additional BASELINE or ENHANCED instrument

•Molecular Analysis


Baseline and Threshold Options

A baseline mission would include one or more of the following (not listed in priority order):

• Superior capabilities (e.g., resolution, range of minerals detected, accuracy) for instruments in the threshold measurements category: “superiority” to be evaluated in the instrument competition

• A second organic detection capability complementary to the first one

• An instrument that measures subsurface structure or composition

The priority of baseline options depends on budget scaling up or down, and the strength of the proposals submitted in response to the AO.

Science Instrument Straw Payloads1

Functionalities Required Blue Straw Payload $M Orange Straw

Payload $MContext imaging Mastcam-like M Mastcam-like MContext Mineralogy UCIS-like M mTES-like MElemental Chemistry APXS-like L µXRF-like LFine-scale imaging MAHLI-like M

MMI-like MFine-scale mineralogy Green Raman-like HOrganic Detection Deep UV-like HScience support equipment Includes cache, sampling system, surface prep toolThreshold Total (SMD funded) ~90 ~90Additional Instrument Options GPR M GPR MHEO contributed payload ISRU ISRUTechnology payload elements Includes range trigger and TRNBaseline Total (SMD funded) ~105 ~105

1Cost totals are instruments only; do not include science support equipment.

Planning Considerations Related to the Surface Operations Scenario


Multiple strategies to improve on the modeled, reference scenarios are available as the mission is further developed.

Plausible mission scenarios can be found

throughout this triangle −

trading drive distance, total number of cached samples, & number of cached samples within a characterized suite

− to suit a variety of possible landing sites.


The charter-specified objectives for Mars 2020 can be achieved with the mission concept proposed at a variety of different landing sites.

“You can get anything you want,

but you can’t get everything you want.”

669 sols1 Mars Year

Quantity of

e.g.,5 km total driving

34 samples2 cores per

characterized target

Coring/CachingQuantity of


20 samples2 cores per

characterized target

Driving

Quantity of


20 samplesfull complement of fieldwork

(1 core per characterized target)

Field Work


Primary Technical Conclusions

The measurements needed to explore a landing site on Mars to interpret habitability and the potential for preservation of biosignatures and to select samples for potential future return to Earth are identical.

Significant technical progress towards MSR requires a returnable cache.

Arm- and mast-mounted instrument data are necessary and sufficient to achieve the required science.

An instrument set capable of the following measurements would be the foundation of an efficient, lower cost rover.

The payload needed to achieve the three scientific objectives of the mission fill much, but not all, of an MSL heritage rover. This creates valuable opportunity for HEO to address long-lead strategic knowledge gaps.

Fine-scale elemental chemistry

Fine-scale mineralogy

Organic detection

Context Imaging

Context mineralogy

Fine-scale imaging


The 2020 Mars Rover mission offers many important advances relative to MER and MSL:

Potential to land on high priority scientific targets previously out of reach, shorten drive distances

Payload designed to recognize potential biosignatures in outcrop

Measurements of fine-scale mineralogy, chemistry, and texture in outcrop (petrology)

The ability to collect compelling samples for potential future return

Possible ellipse using range trigger

Possible ellipse using range trigger and TRN

Final landing ellipse

Original 25X20 kmGale crater landing ellipse

“GO TO”

“LAND ON”

core sample

seal

sample tube

31 sample cache

The ability to collect compelling samples for potential future return

Prepare for the future human exploration of Mars

final report of the 2020 mars rover science definition team (sdt)

Documents